Paper-feeding machine



Nov.

F. L. CROSS ET AL PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 19, 1929. F. L. cRoss ET AL 1,736,340

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug; 25, 1923 1929. F. L. cRoss ET AL. 36,340

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Filed Aug'. 25-, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 za irm s W wm u/wagy Nov. l9, 1929. I F. 1.. CROSS :1 AL 1,736,340

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK L. CROSS, 01' PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, AND HENN'ING HALLSTREAM, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOBS T0 CROSS PAPER FEEDER COMIANY, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE Application filed August 25, 1928. Serial No. 659,810.

The invention relates to paper feeding machines which separate individual sheets from a pile or bank and forward them in regular succession to a printing press or other machine.

The object of the invention is to provide means which is well adapted for separating the sheets from the forward end of a continuous bank of feathered sheets without applying to the sheets a rubbing pressure which, if applied to a printed surface, would be hable to smear or deface the surface or cause off-set from one sheet to another. To this end the invention comprises the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and specified in the claims.

The invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the mechanism illustrated therein.

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a mechanism embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 22 of Figure 1; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views on lines 3-3, and 5-5, Figure 1, showing details of the mechanism for operating the various parts; and Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are a series of diagrammatic views illustrating the mode of operation in separating the individual sheetsfrom the top of the pile or bank.

In the drawings the invention is shown embodied in a pa er feeder of the con tinuous type in which a bank of feathered or fanned-out sheets are fed from an pper delivery table 2 through a reversing t roat 4 and onto a lower feed table 6. The in dividual sheets are separated from the front end of the bank and. presented to delivery rolls 8 and 10 by which they are forwarded to the machine or mechanism for further operating thereon. The devices for separating individual sheets are constructed and op-' erated to separate the top sheet and present it to the delivery rolls without applying rubbing ressure to the sheet or bank and are there ore well adapted for operating upon printed sheets Without danger of smearing or rubbing the printed surface or causing offset from one sheet to another. These devices comprise a series of transversely spaced flexing fingers 12 underlying the front end of the bank and operating to bend the front ends of the sheets upward, two sheet retainers in the form of soft rubber suction cups 14 carried at the lower end of suction tubes 16, two independently controlled sheet carriers in the form of soft rubber suction cups 18 carried on the lower ends of suction tubes 20,

by the downward movement of the flexing fingers 12 and also acting as nozzles for directing a blast of air between the top of the bank and the sheet retained b the retainer cups 14 and carried forward y the carrier cups 18.

Immediatel after a separated sheet has been delivered by the delivery rolls, the flex ing fingers are raised from the position indicated in Figures 6 to 9 to the position indicated in Figure 2 and flex or bend upward the front edges of the sheets at the front end of the bank bringing the top sheet into engagement with the retainer suction cups 14. At this point in the cycle the suction tubes carrying the cups are put'into communication with a suction device such as a suction fan so that the top sheet is drawn against the mouth of the cups. To assist in the eflective separation of the top sheet from the sheets beneath it, the suction tube 16 is mounted to slide. within a fixed tube 28 and is held in its ro'jected position by a light spring 30 whi'c yields under the suction caused by the closing of -the suction tube by the sheet so that the suctionretracts the cup, thus further flexing the top sheet away from the sheets beneath it as the flexing fingers return to their initial position. To insure the separation of the sheets as they are raised by the flexing fingers, a blast of air is discharged against the front edges of the sheets by the nozzles 22 which are so arranged that the flexing of'the sheets by the flexing fingers carries the edges of the sheets across the blast of air. The nozzles are also so arranged that the blast of air is directed undersheet and at the same time these clamps are put into communication with a blower so that they deliver a blast 'of air between the top sheet and the sheet beneath it, the blast through the nozzles 22 being shut off at this point in the cycle. The sheet carrier cups 18 are then moved down into engagement with the top sheet and the suction pipe 20 is put into communication with the suction device, the communication with the retainer cups 14 being shutofi' at the same time so that the retainer cups release the sheet which is now held and supported by the carrier cups, as indicated in Figure 7 The carrier cups are moved forward to advance the top sheet by carrier slides 32 with which the lower ends of the carrier tubes 20 are connected and each carrier continues to carry the sheet forward until the edge of the sheet in front of the carrier engages a cut-out finger 34 when the for- ,ward movement of the corresponding slide and carrier cup is arrested by the engagement of the cut-out pawl 36 with the ratchet teeth 38 on the slide, the pawl being connected with the cut-out finger so that the engagement of the front sheet with the finger swings the pawl down into engagement with the ratchet teeth, as indicated in Figure 8. After the forward movement of the carriers has been completed and both cut-outs operated, the upper delivery roll 10 is moved down into engagement with the sheet, the front edge of which now lies between the two delivery rolls and at the same time the communication between the carrier cups and the suction device is cut off andthe suction carriers and cutouts are raised to leave thesheet free 'to be .carried forward by the delivery rolls, as indicated in Figure 9. The front clamps remain in communication with the blower and deliver a blast of air below the top sheet until the delivery of the sheet has been nearly completed. During the delivery of the sheet, the front clamps are raised slightly to free the front edge of the bank so that its forward feed may. be effected during this part of the cycle and".

the carrier cupsare returned to their retrart ed position preparatory to the separation and carrying forward ofthe succeeding sheet.

For convenience in adjustingthe sheet separ'atin'g and carrying devices for different sizes of sheets, each set of separating devices and the corresponding cut-out is mounted upon a laterally adjustable supporting bracket 40. Each bracket is provided at its upper end with a split bearing 42 surrounding a transverse fixed shaft 44 to which it is adjustably clamped by a bolt- 46. The bracket is also provided with a bearing 48 embracing the cam shaft 50. The suction tube-28 for the retainer cup 14 is secured f in a bearing 52 which is in turn secured to the bracket 40. The upper end of the tube is connected by a flexible pipe 54 with a pipe '56 which is connected and disconnected with a suction device through a valve 58 controlled by a cam 60'on the cam shaft. The upper end of the suction tube 20 for the carrier cup 18 is mounted to slide in a bearing block 62 which is swiveled in a bracket 64 secured to the upper end of a vertically movable slide 66 which is mounted in guideways 'in the bracket 40. The lower end of the tube is mounted to slide in a bearing block 68 pivoted at 70, Figure 8, to the carrier slide 32 which is mounted in a guideway 72 formed on the lower end of the slide 66. The tube is held in normal position in the bearings by a collar 74 held in engagement with the upper bearing by its weight and a light spring 76. The slide 66 is raised and lowered by a cam 78 mounted on the cam shaft 50 and engaging a roll 80 on the slide. The carrier slide 32 is retracted by a cam 82 formed on the hub of cam 7 8 and engaging a roll 84 on a link 86, the end of which is pivoted to one arm of a three arm lever 88 pivoted at 90 on the bracket 40. Another arm of the lever 88 is connected by a link 92 with the carrier slide 32 and the third arm is acted upon by a spring 94 which tends to hold the roll 84 against the cam 82 and -to advance the carrier slide when permitted to do so by the cam. The ,free end of the link 86 is provided with a yoke, the arms of which straddle a bearing block mouijxted on the hub of the cams 78 and 82 and arranged between the cams. serves to connect the cams with the bracket 40 so that the cams are adjusted. with the block. The cams are secured in adjusted position on the cam shaft by aset screw 96. The cut-out finger 34 and pawl 36 are pivoted at 98 on the forward end of the guideway 72 and the finger projects down through a slot in a guideplate 100 whichis also secured to theguideway.

The above construction enables the sepmating and cut-out devices to be conveniently andeconomically manufactured and assembled and also enables these parts and the actuating cams therefor to be readily and conveniently adjusted as a unit transversely of-the machine in setting up the machine for any size or character of work.

Each front clamp 26 is formed on the upper end of a blast pipe 102 secured in a hearing in a lever 194 which is pivoted to the forward end of a rock arm 106, the rear end The link thus.

llO

of which is secured for lateral adjustment upon a rock shaft 108 arranged below the forward end of the feed board. The lever is forced in a direction to bring the upper part of the blast tube against the forward end of the feed board by a spring 110. When the clamp is raised, the forward end of the lever 104 strikes the lower feed roll shaft 112 and swings the clamp forward out of the path of thesheets when bent upward by the flexing fingers 12, as indicated in Fig. 2. When the clamp is moved downward, it first swings in over the sheets on the forward end of the feed board and then after the pipe 102 has engaged the forward end of the feed board it moves downward into engagement with the sheets. The clamps are formed by rearwardly bending and flattening the end of the blast pipe so that they form blast nozzles for directing a blast of air between the top separated sheet and the sheets beneath it. The rock shaft 108 is actuated to raise and lower the clamps by a cam 114 on the cam shaft which engages a roll 11.6 on the upper end of a link 118, the lower end of which is pivoted to an arm 120 secured to the rock shaft (Figs. 1 and 4).

Each blower nozzle 22 is carried in a bearing124 secured 'to the lower end of a supporting rod 126, the upper end of which is adjustably secured in a collar 128. The collars are secured for lateraland angular-adjustment on the fixed shaft 44. By adjustment of .the collars 128 and rods 126, the re- 'lation of the nozzles to" the front' edges of sheets.

The blast through the nozzles 22 is controlled by a cam 130 and valve 132 which open and shut off communication between a blower and a pipe 134 with which the upper ends of the blast pipes 24 connect by flexible tubes 136. The blast through the front clamps 26 is controlled by a cam 138 and valve 140 which open and shut off communication between the blower and a pipe 142 with which the lower ends of the blast pipes 102 are connecfedby flexible tubes 144. The suct on through the carrier cups 18 is controlled by a cam 146 and valve 148 which open and shut off communication between a suction device and a pipe 150 which is connected with the up per ends of the suction tubes through flexible tubes 152. g r y The flexing fingers 12 are arranged to swing upward through slots formed in the forward end of the feed board and are secured to a transverse rock shaft 154 arranged below the board. The rock shaft is actuated to raise and lower the fingers by a cam.156 on the'cam shaft which engages a roll 158 on a link 160, the lower end of which is pivoted roll on the end of an arm 170 secured to the rock shaft (Figs. 1 and 5).

The bank of feathered or fanned-out sheets is fed from the supply table 2 to the feed table 6 and is fed forward over the feed table by the feed tapes 172 and 174 which are actuated by devices controlled by, the front end of the bank to maintain it in proper relation to, the devices at the front end of the feed table. The mechanism for thus actuating and controlling the feed of the bank comprises a ratchet wheel 176 secured to theshaft 178 which carries the pulleys 180 carrying the front ends of the feed tapes 174 and a feeding pawl 182 which is given a feeding stroke only when the front end of the bank is back of a predetermined point (Fig. 4). The feeding pawl is carried on one end of a lever 184 and is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring 186. The other end of the lever is connected by a link 188 with the lower end of a lever 190. The lever is acted forward the bank of sheets by a cam 194secured to the cam shaft and arranged to act on a roll "196 "on the lever. The movement of "the lever to retract the pawl and bring the roll 196 into the path of the cam 194 is controlled by a pawl 198 secured to a rock shaft 200 and normally held by a spring 202 in position to engage a stop shoulder 204 on the upper end of the lever.

The rock shaft is mounted in bearings, one of which is formed in a bracket 206 secured to the frame of the machine and the other which is formed in an arm 208 of a bracket 210 secured to the fixed shaft 44 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). The pawl is"controlled by acontroller finger 212 which is mounted to slide v in a bearing 214 formed on the lower end of the bracket 210 and is so arranged that when lowered. its lower end will engage the top sheet of the bank just back of its forward edge provided the front end of the bank is in proper relation to the separating devices at the forward end of the feed .table. The upperend of the controller finger is slotted at 216 to slide on a pin 218 on the outerend of an arm 220 which is secured to the rock shaft 200. The finger is raised and lowered during each cycle of the machine by a cam 222 secured to thecam shaft and engaging a roll on-a lever 224, the rear end of which is pivoted to the bracket 210 and the forward passed from under them. The mechanism.

If the front edge of the top sheet of the bank is back of the controller finger, however, the finger is then free to move downward into a hole or recess 230 in the front end of the feed table and this abnormal downward movement brings the upper end of the slot 216 into engagement with the pin 218v so that the weight of the controller finger rocks the shaft-2 00, lifting the pawl 198 so that the lever 190 is. free to be moved by its spring 192 to retract the feeding pawl, the feed cam 194 at this point in the cycle being in position to permit this movement of the lever. When this occurs, therefore, the feed pawl will. be retracted and will then be advanced by the feed "cam to feed forward the bank and bring its front edge under the controller finger. To relieve the pressure of the stop shoulder 204 on the end of the pawl at the time the controller finger is lowered, the feed cam and roll 196 are so located that the cam moves the lever slightly during each cycle. This movement, however, moves the pawl less than a tooths length so that no feed of the bank results.

The bank of sheets is held and pressed downward onto the feed table by pressure rolls 232 arranged to bear on the bank a short distance forward of the rear end of the top sheet. These rolls are raised for a short interval during the forward movement of the carrier cups to free the rear end of the top sheet. They again engage the bank immediately after the rear end of the top sheet has for raising and lowering the pressure rolls is similar to that shown and described in the Patent No. 812,260, dated February 13,. 1906,

and is indicated at 234. The bar 236 for raising and lowering the rolls is actuated by a cam 238 on the cam shaft' which engages a roll on the-upper end of the lever 240, the lower end of which is connectedby a link 242 with the bell crank lever 246 which sup orts the forward end of the bar (Fig. 5). he bank is also held and pressed downward onto the feed table by ressure rolls 248 mounted in the rear end 0 bars 250, the forward ends of which are pivoted to the supports for the rolls 232.

In operating upon some classes of paper,

- it will be desirable in orderto form a sharp bend in the forward end of the pile to provide an abutment such as the rod indicated in dotted lines at 252 in Figure 2 which'overlies the bank near its front end and determines the point at which the bank is-bent by the upward movement of the flexing fingers 12. It may also be found desirable to provide the carriers with stops such as rolls 254 for engaging the pile upon the downward movement of the suction cups 18 and preventing the enga ement of the ends of the tubes 20 with the bank.

What is claimed is:

1. Asheet feedin machine havin ,in combination, a feed ta le, means for eeding a the sheets beneath it are released and return to initial position, and means for completing the separation and delivery of the top sheet.

2. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, a feed table, means for feeding a continuous bank of feathered sheets over the table, devices at the front end of the table for bending upward and releasing the end of the bank, an abutment overl ing the bank to locate the bend therein, s eet retaining means for retaining the bent end of the top sheet when the sheets beneath it are released and return to inital position, and means for completing the separation and delivery of the top sheet.

3. A sheet feedin machinejhavin ,in combination, a feed ta le, means for eeding a continuous bank of feathered sheets over the table, devices at the front end of the table for bending upward and releasing the end of the bank, suction retainers for retaining the bent end of the top sheet when the sheets beneath it are released and return to initial position, means for actuating the retainers to release the sheet while still in position on the bank, and means acting thereafter to advance the sheet and deliverit from the bank.

4. A sheet feeding machine having, in combition, a feed table, means for feeding a c ntinuous bank of feathered sheets over t e table, devices at the front end of the table,

for bending upward and releasing the end of the bank, suctio'nretainers for retaining the bent end of the top sheet when the sheets beneath it are released and return to initial position, and reciprocating sheet advancin devices for engaging theto sheet and a vancing it with relation to t e bank.

5. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, a feed table, means for feeding a continuous bank of feathered sheets over the table, devices at the front end of the table for bending upward the frent end of the bank, suction sheet retainers acting to retain the bent end of the top sheet when the sheets beneath it are released and return to initial. ositlon, means for holding the front end 0 the bank below the top sheet, delivery devices, and devices for engaging the top sheet and advancing it to the delivery devices.

6. A sheet feeding machine havin in combination, a feed table, meansifor eeding a continuous bank of feathered. sheets over the table, means at the front end of the table for bending upward and releasing the front end of the bank, means for retaining the bent end of the top sheet when the sheets beneath it are released and retuin to initial position, means for delivering the top sheet, and means for controlling the feed of the bank to maintain its front end in predetermined relation to the bendingand retaining means as the sheets in predetermined relation to the flexing and sheet retaining devices as the sheets are successively separated and delivered.

8. A sheet feedin machine havin in combination, a feed ta 1e, means for ceding a continuous bank of feathered sheets over the table, devices at the front end' of the table o ben ng'up e d nd ea i g th nd of e enk, ue i r taine s reta n n the nt nd f the p sh et h n he shee beneath it are released and return tQ initial P me ron lemp o c am in the front e f h e k bene h ret ined nd of the p she m ans o d e ir g'e blast of air between the top sheet and the sheets beneath it, and means for advancing and delivering the top sheet from the bank. .9. A sheet feedin machine havin in combination, a feed ta le, means for ceding a continuous bank of feathered sheets over the table, devices at the front end of the table for bending and releasing the end of the bank, suction retainers for retaining the bent end of the top sheet when the sheets beneath it are released and return to initial position, suction carriers for taking the sheet when released by he retainers, and means for raising and lowering and for advancing and retracting the earners.

10. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, means for'flexing and releasing a number ofsheets, means for retaining the top sheet when the others are released and return to initial position, and means for directing against the front edges of the sheets an air blast across which the edges are carried by the flexing means.

-11. A' sheet feeding machine having, in

combination means for flexing and releasing a number of sheets, means for retaining the top sheet when the others are released and return to initial position, and a blower nozzle arranged to direct a blast of air under the flexed and retained end of the top sheet and against the tops of the returning sheets.

12. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, means for flexing and releasing a number of sheets, means for retaining the top sheet when the others are released and return to initial position, sheet advancing means for advancing the top sheet when released by the retaining means, and a cut-out operated by the front edge of the sheet to arrest the advance of the sheet.

13. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, means for flexing and releasing a number of sheets, suction retainers for retainin the flexed end of the top sheet when the otl ers are released and return to initial position, two independently controlled sheet advancing means;'-and'a cut-out for each advancing means operated by the sheet to arrest its advance.

14. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, means for flexing and releasing a number of sheets, means for retaining the ed end of t top shee hen he ot er are released and return to initial position end fo anc ng S d h et. h relati n o th n lyin e s and e sheet vertd ut-out or tro l n ad ance of he shee v 5- A sheet fee in ma h ne he n e mh ne ien,- e teed e 1e, m an to fe di a en inueu j hank e eather d he ever th tabl a hehk'helding elem es ng n the ten Shee 'neer its ar ehv de i e a t irhnt' end of the table for nding 14 ard and rel asing he front end o t e eak m ans for re in ng th b end. ef he e heet whe h heet b ne it a e elea e an return t in t al po en'end for advancing the sheet, and means for raising the clamp during the withdrawal of the rear end of the top sheet from beneath it.

16. A sheet feedin machine having, in combination, means or separating the top sheet, suction carriers for advancing the separated sheet, and cut-outs operated by the front edge of the sheet to arrest the advance of the sheet.

17. A sheet feedin machine having, in combination, means or separating the top sheet, suction carriers for advancing the top sheet, means for raising and lowering the carriers, means for advancing and retracing the carriers through a variable movement, and cut-outs for arrestingwthesadvance of the carriers.

18. 'A sheet feedin machine havin in combination, means fir flexing and re easing a number of sheets, means for retainin the top sheet when the others are release and return to initial position, suction carriers for advancing the top sheet when released by the retaining means, and a cut-out operated by the front edge of the sheet to arrest the advance of the sheet.

19. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, means for flexing and releasing a number of sheets, means for retaining the flexed endof the top sheet when the others are released and return to initial position, and suction means for advancing said sheet with relation to the underlying sheets, and a sheetoperated cut-out for controlling the advance of the sheet.

20. In a sheet-feeder, an oscillatable suction feed-member, having suction applied thereto at its lowermost portion, a trip actuated by the leading edge of the advanced sheet for arresting the forward movement of said member, and means for raising the trip from said sheet.

21. In a sheet-feeder, an oscillatable suction feed-member having suction applied thereto at its lowermost portion, a trip actuated by the leading edge of the advanced sheet for arresting the forward movement of said member, and means for thereafter raising the trip from said sheet.

22. In a sheet feeder, a sheet support, a.

pair of movable suction feed members arranged above the support to advance the sheets, means for applying suction to each member,separate means controlled by the advanced sheet for independently arresting the forward stroke of either member on any part of its movement, and means for shutting off the suction from the member.

23. Inta sheet feeder, a reciprocating suction feedKmember for advancing the fannedout sheets from the front portion of the bank, and means controlled by the advanced sheet for arresting the sheet advancing movement of said member. 1

24. In a continuous sheet feeder, a vertically reciprocating suction feed member operating on the front portion of the fannedout bank for advancing the successive sheets forwardly therefrom.

25. In a sheet feeder, a reciprocating suction feed member for advancing the fannedout sheets from the front portion of the bank, and means including a sheet operated trip for arresting the sheet advancing movement of said member at any point during said movement.

26. A sheet feeding machine having, in combination, means for separating the top sheet, suction carriers for advancing the separated sheet, driving means for the suction carriers, yielding means connecting the driving means with the suction carriers, and means interposed in the path of movement of the advancing sheet for arresting the movement of the carriers.

FRANK L. CROSS. HENNING HALLSTREAM. 

